Jesse c



(No Model.)

J. O. SCOGGINS.

CRATE. w No. 432,907. Patented July 22, 1890.

Witnesses:

UNITED- STATES A PATENT OFFICE,

JESSE O. SCOGGINS, OF GREELEY, KANSAS.

CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 432,907, dated July 2 2, 1890..

- Application filed April 16,1890. Serial No. 348,224. (No model.)

To all whom it 712 coy concern.-

Be it known that I, JESSE C. SCOGGINS, of Greeley, in the county of Anderson and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Crates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in folding crates; and it consists inthe combination of the side and end pieces, which are hinged together in such a manner that the crate can be folded together so as to take up little room in transportation, the hinges being provided with flanges for the purpose of holding the top and bottom pieces in position, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The objects of my invention are to provide a crate having hinges of peculiar construction, hereinafter described, which can be folded up into a very small space when not needed for immediate use, to form the flanges which hold the top and bottom pieces in position upon the hinge-plates, and to for. hi the handles as a portion of the plates which are attached to the end pieces.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the crate which embodies my invention, the top piece being removed so as to show the construction and arrangement of the hinges. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same. Fig. 3 is an edge view of the crate, showing it folded together and ready for transportation.

A represents the side, and B the end pieces of the crate, and these pieces may either be formed of single boards.or aseries of strips of pieces of boards or slats which are fastened together by the hinge-plates.

secured to the ends of the side pieces A are the vertical straps or plates 0, which are provided with a suitable number of eyes D, and which plates are applied to the outer and inner sides of the side pieces A, as shown, so as to enable the crate to be folded together so as to occupy but little room either while notin use or in being shipped back to its owner. As will be seen, one plate 0 is applied to the outer side of the crate, and the one at the opposite corner-is applied to the inner side of the crate, and hence when the crate is to be folded one part fits snugly down upon the top of the other, so as to take up as little room as possible.

Applied to the upper and lower edges of the end pieces B are the hinge-plates G, which have the eyes H formed upon their ends, and which correspond to the eyes D formed upon the plates 0, and through which eyes D H suitable pins J are fastened. The eyes H of the plates G are turned in opposite directions, so that one is upon the outer side of the end piece 13, while the opposite one is bent or 7 turned around the end of the end piece so asto correspond to the plate 0, placed inside of the crate. Formed upon the inner edges of the plates G at their centers are the handles L, and these handles are in position ready for use, no matter which side of the crate maybe turned up. If there is to be adistinctive top and bottom to the crate, then handles on the top plate G will be sufficient. The outer edges of the plates G project any suitable distance beyond the top and bottom edges of the end pieces 1%, and these edges are turned over so as to form the guides or flanges 0, into which the ends of the top and bottom pieces Q are made to catch, and these top and bottom pieces are fastened in position by catches or fastenings of any suitable description. Should it be desired to slide the top and end pieces Q into position from the sides of the crate instead of from the ends, the ends of the hingeplates G may be made to project beyond the bottom and top edges of the end pieces.

In order to divide the crate into two compartments, a central division-piece R is used, and the ends of this division-piece are hinged to the side pieces A, and the hinges are placed upon opposite sides of its two ends.

Before the crate can be folded the top and bottom pieces must he slipped out of position, the crate then folded, and these pieces then applied to it.

A crate constructed as here shown is especially adapted for the conveyance of eggs; but it may be used for any other purpose that may be preferred. The pasteboard egg-carriers do not have to be removed from the crate, as the carriers fold up upon themselves. The

springs or, which hold the top and bottom pieces in position when upon the crate, also serve to hold these pieces in place when applied to the folded crate.

WVhile I only show the plates G provided with a bulged portion to form a handle, it will be readily seen that the plates C may be provided with bulged-out portions in the same manner without departing from my invention, so that the crate will be convenient to handle when in any position.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a folding crate, the combination, with the side and end pieces, of plates which are applied at the ends of the side and end pieces and which extend entirely across them and are provided with corresponding eyes upon each end, and pintle-bolts which pass through the eyes and form hinges, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a folding crate, the combination, with the side and end pieces, of the plates which are applied thereto at the ends of the side of the plates upon the side pieces having eyes at the outside and the other plate having eyes at the inside of the said side and end pieces, and pintle-bolts which pass through the eyes, substantially as shown and described.

3. In afolding crate, the combination, with the side and end pieces, of the hinge-plates applied thereto at the ends thereof and having corresponding eyes, pintle -bolts which pass through the eyes, the plates having their ends extended beyond the edges of the said side and end pieces and turned inward to form guides, and the top and bottom pieces which move in the said guides, substantially as shown.

4. In a folding crate, the combination, with the side and end pieces, of plates which are applied thereto at the ends of the said side and end pieces and which extend entirely across them and are provided with corresponding eyes upon each end, pintle-bolts which pass through the eyes and form hinges, and a bulged-out portion which forms ahandhold, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JESSE O. SOOGGINS. I

Witnesses:

HORACE GRANT, J. T. STUDEBAKER. 

